Speech Therapist

A speech therapist (or speech-language pathologist) is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats disorders of communication, voice, speech, swallowing, and language in children and adults. Speech therapists work to improve the ability to speak, understand language, and swallow safely, helping patients regain communication skills after injury or illness, or supporting those with developmental delays. They work in hospitals, private practice, schools, and rehabilitation centres, and must be licensed by their national health authority.

• ✓Child showing delayed speech or language development compared to developmental milestones
• ✓Persistent articulation difficulties (such as lisping) not resolving naturally after age 5–6
• ✓Stammering or stuttering affecting quality of life or social participation
• ✓Chronic hoarseness, voice loss, or vocal strain, especially in professional voice users
• ✓Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), especially after stroke, surgery, or head injury
• ✓Suspected dyslexia or written language difficulties affecting school performance
• ✓Language regression or communication loss following stroke or traumatic brain injury
• ✓Hearing loss with associated communication difficulties requiring speech rehabilitation

Master's degree or equivalent qualification in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Disorders from an accredited university. In the United States, certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is standard. In the UK, registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is required. In Israel, therapists must hold a recognized university qualification (typically a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology) and be registered with the Israeli Ministry of Health's national register of healthcare professionals.